Carl Clapper

Carl Merland Clapper, one of two children of Clyde Earl Clapper and Lola Esther (Grindle) Clapper, was born on March 26, 1916, near Thurman, Iowa. He grew up in the areas of rural Thurman, McPaul and Pacific Junction, Iowa. Carl attended College Hill Country School and Thurman Consolidated High School, graduating in 1933. Following school, Carl worked various jobs until 1940 when he began work as a switchman for the C. B. & Q Railroad and later the Burlington Northern Railroad. After 36 years, Carl retired from the railroad on May 28, 1976.

Carl and Helen Livengood were united in marriage, and in 1940, they were blessed with a son, Merland Clay. The couple later divorced. Carl and Lulu (Dunlap) McIntire were married on May 21, 1955, in Red Oak, Iowa and made their home in Glenwood.

Carl became involved with softball after playing baseball in high school. In the early 40s, he started playing softball in Pacific Junction, where the field was just a weed patch. In 1958, Carl was instrumental in the construction and lighting of the softball field on South Vine Street in Glenwood, which is still in use today. He served as treasurer for the Southwest Iowa Amateur Softball Association for 20 years, with additional tasks of assigning umpires and maintaining the softball field. He served on the Board of Directors of the Omaha Amateur Softball Association Board for 17 years, was a deputy commissioner, and also served on the protest and grievance committee for 12 years. On October 18, 1989, Carl became the 58th person inducted into the Omaha Softball Hall of Fame, receiving a plaque and key to the City of Omaha from Mayor P. J. Morgan.

Throughout the years, Lulu was a great help to Carl with his softball activities and community involvement. They had been married 37 years when Lulu passed away on February 23, 1992 at Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Carl was a member of the Grace United Methodist Church and a lifetime Optimist. He was a member of the Glenwood Masonic Lodge No. 58 and served as Tiler for many years. He served 18 years in the RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program) and was on the Glen Haven Board of Directors for 19 years. Carl received the Glenwood Area Chamber of Commerce "Good Neighbor" Award in 1998 and received the Iowa Governor's Volunteer Award in 2001 and 2002. He was a supporter of Boys Town in Omaha, NE, and Helping Hospitalized Veterans. Among his other enjoyments, were fishing and growing beautiful flowers.

Carl and his sister, Beulah, lived near each other in Glenwood, until Carl entered Glen Haven Home in 2007. Carl died at Glen Haven on August 16, 2009, at the age of 93 years, 4 months, and 20 days. He was preceded in death by his parents, Clyde and Lola Clapper; wife Lulu Clapper; son Merland Clapper in 1984; and brother-in-law Ralph Briley.

Carl is survived by his sister Beulah Briley of Glenwood, IA and her daughters, Shirley Nickerson and husband Bruce of Milford, NE, and Sandra Dye and husband Donald of Imperial, NE; four grandchildren, Alan Clapper of Nevada, MO, Roger Clapper of Bellevue, NE, Shawn Clapper and Tanya Clapper, both of Odessa, TX; three great grandchildren; other relatives and a host of friends.

Memorials are suggested to:

Alzheimer's Association Midlands Chapter
1941 South 42nd Street, Suite 205
Omaha, NE 68105

website: www.alz.org/midlands

Interment in the Glenwood Cemetery.